The One and Only Guide - Chapter 13
“Now… it’s okay.”
At Axion’s words, Jian raised her hand and touched his throat. The waves seemed to have stabilized quite a bit after about an hour of contact guiding. The stabilization level was roughly around 20%.
Considering that only an hour of contact guiding had been conducted, it could be considered remarkably efficient. If the Director of the Awakening Association’s research institute were to confirm these results, it would be quite surprising.
However, since they had already started the contact guiding, it seemed prudent to conduct guiding up to about 30%. That way, they might avoid such maneuvers in the future. Having completed the calculation, Jian prevented Axion from getting up.
“Stay still. The contact guiding isn’t finished yet.”
“But… it makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it?”
Uncomfortable. After being held captive for three days and subjected to contact guiding by the kidnapper, how could one not feel disgusted?
But even so, did it show too much? Axion, pondering Jian’s puzzled expression, tightly sealed his lips.
Even in the midst of being intoxicated by her guiding energy, Jian’s emotions as a Guide were vividly flowing. Puzzlement, boredom, and the effort to endure discomfort – all these emotions were being conveyed along with the guiding.
While he himself was in such ecstasy, Jian could only sense discomfort, boredom, faint anger, and sympathy from Axion. As someone who had to depend on Jian’s faint sympathy, Axion didn’t want to be disliked by her any more than this.
To maintain at least a semblance of the Guide’s sympathy, he shouldn’t harbor desires beyond a certain point.
She, too, might want to stop the guiding. He couldn’t even fathom how surprised she would have been to find him in the middle of the night. He knew she was surprised and frightened as soon as the contact guiding began.
He knew, but he couldn’t bring himself to reassure her or console her. Intoxicated by the guiding, he had no room for rational thoughts, much like being drunk.
However, thanks to the guiding that had continued for about an hour, he finally had the luxury of late rational thinking. So, he tried to stop the guiding, but was met with Jian’s unexpectedly firm words.
“I said I’m not done guiding you. Don’t move.”
At Jian’s words, Axion even breathed carefully. His chest, which had been rising and falling significantly, gradually expanded and contracted. Due to the close proximity, he could keenly feel every subtle change on his skin. Jian spoke with a sigh.
“I didn’t say that you should stop breathing.”
“……”
“You mentioned that you’re a Duke, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
His compliant answer somewhat softened Jian’s demeanor.
“When engaged in guiding, there are certain things that one can’t help but notice, even if they try to remain oblivious. Especially in cases of contact guiding, it becomes a bit easier to discern whether the Esper receiving the guiding is an as*hole or not. For most Espers, excitement tends to accompany guiding, and instinctively, they desire even more intimate guiding.
Guide assignments in the Awakening Association aren’t handed out for no reason. It’s the safest place for guiding because other Espers who can prevent unexpected situations are on constant duty.
Of course, these didn’t happen often.
After all, Espers were human, and why shouldn’t they be able to control their instincts?
The problem was a few Espers who couldn’t control their instincts.
And as far as Jian was concerned, Axion’s patience ranked high. At least, there seemed to be no need to worry about a situation escalating. Moreover, perhaps by handling this man well, Jian might find a way back home.
“But why have you been turning your head like that?”
“I said I don’t want to see your face.”
“……”
He remembered. She had said something like that, expressing disdain for staring directly at each other’s faces. However, he didn’t expect Jian to be so sincerely turning her head away from him. She looked uncomfortable, is that okay?
“If you want, I can cover my face with a blanket or a pillow.”
Axion didn’t wait for a response and lifted the pillow, placing it over his own face. From Jian’s perspective, it was a somewhat ridiculous gesture. Jian reached out and pulled the pillow down, saying,
“Enough of that. How long do you plan on keeping me locked up here?”
“……”
“You’re a Guide kidnapper. Do you think the Awakening Association will just stay quiet? Once they locate me, they’ll dispatch Espers to rescue me.”
Axion’s body stiffened at Jian’s threat. Her next words frightened him even more
“If it comes to that point, you won’t see me ever again. Do you really want that?”
Not being able to see her again. Just the thought of it made the surroundings dizzy. Without thinking, Axion forcefully pulled Jian into a tight embrace. Only after Jian yelped from the force did Axion manage to release the strength in his arms.
